Product Description

Movie DVD

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #26019 in DVD
• Brand: STARZ/SPHE
• Released on: 2002-03-19
• Rating: R (Restricted)
• Aspect ratio: 1.85:1
• Formats: Anamorphic, Closed-captioned, Color, DVD, Widescreen, NTSC
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 110 minutes

Amazon.com
The crazy man of British film, Ken Russell (Women in Love, Whore), hit the apex of guilty-pleasure absurdity with Crimes of Passion, a dark if pointed (and ultimately poignant) walk on the wild side. Although this schizophrenic, neon-blurred traipse through the red-light district of Los Angeles, courtesy of hooker and guide China Blue (Kathleen Turner), never made much money at the box office, it still managed to eke out a cult following. Barry Sandler's script felt a lot like a play with its rather stilted (but furiously funny) dialogue between Turner and Anthony Perkins, who plays an obsessed and crazed stalker/reverend who believes he is China Blue's savior. Their story is contrasted against that of Bobby Grady (John Laughlin), who is married to the materialistic Amy (Annie Potts). After taking a second job as a private investigator for a dress manufacturer who thinks his lead designer, Joanna Crane (Turner again), is selling patterns to a rival, Bobby becomes mired in a netherworld he never imagined. But it's Bobby who becomes Joanna/China Blue's true savior; it seems Joanna's husband cheated on her and she created the alter ego, China Blue, in order to control her world by making men dependent on her sexuality. The facade cracks after Bobby hits the scene. Russell's film is bawdy and even daring, and the unrated version on DVD features a couple of scenes (one with China Blue, a cop, and his nightstick, as well as some flashes of pornography) that were not included in the film's original release. Also for die-hard fans, Sandler originally ended the script at a more ambiguous place in the climactic scene in Joanna's apartment. An "epitaph" with Bobby at an encounter group was added to appease the distributor, who wanted a more upbeat, "Hollywood" conclusion. Sandler's original idea gave the film a real wallop, but despite the change, Crimes of Passion remains an original camp classic. --Paula Nechak

From the Back Cover
By day, Joanna crane (Kathleen Turner) is a prim workaholic fashion designer. At night she becomes China Blue, a kinky hooker on the streets of Los Angeles. But when she finds herself being followed by a private investigator (John Laughlin) and stalked by a fanatical preacher (a truly over-the-top performance by Anthony Perkins), Joanna's depraved double life threatens to explode. In the world ruled by mad passion and holy obsession, can one woman survive the most dangerous emotion of all?

Annie Potts and Bruce Davidson co-star in this landmark adult thriller directed by the inimitable Ken Russell (Tommy, Altered States, Women in Love) that became one of the most controversial films of the decade. Crimes of Passion is now presented in a razor-sharp new widescreen transfer and features recently discovered deleted scenes as well as shocking footage of graphic sexuality (including the notorious 'night stick' scene) not contained in the original U.S. theatrical version.

Customer Reviews

"Goodbye, China Blue"
I consider myself lucky to find this cult classic on DVD with an awesome deep blue cover and the words "unrated, uncensored". Although I've been watching it so many times on video, the uncut version on DVD including some newly restored footage is a real bonus, let alone its other bonus materials, like the commentaries and a whole bunch of deleted scenes. "Crimes of Passion" is the kind of film that ignites different thoughts on each viewer's mind, although the talents of its director and actors are undeniable to everybody. The sarcastic, witty dialogue is another achievement that can be fairly compared to "All About Eve". I for one have been deeply impressed by the innumerable outrageously funny lines exchanged among the characters. One line, however, sounded like a sad memorable quote, not just because it wrapped up the whole plot but it also reminded us of an exceptionally talented and ill-fated actor -- Anthony Perkins: "Goodbye, China Blue".

Would you like some Pan Am coffee or some TWA tea?
This movie is outrageous! I have loved it since the first time I saw it back in '84. Turner is like a super nova in this movie just blazing across the screen. The way she primps, struts, prisses, and drops her one-liner heavy dialogue is a delight. Perkins is creepy as hell and the hole thing just keeps pushing the envelope further and further. Definitely not for everybody, but if you have the taste for the bizarre, graphic, over-the-top filmaking, you'll love it.

This is simply a Great (disturbing) Movie
I first saw Crimes of Passion in a theater years (and years) ago - and when I watched the DVD edition I realized - nothing is outdated. Nothing is lost in the translation. This is one of the most powerful, disturbing, yet poignant films I've ever seen - right up there with "Requiem For a Dream", and "Blue Velvet." First of all, how can you beat the performances of Kathleen Turner and Anthony Perkins? Better yet - is Perkins' character real? Or is he China Blue's conscience, used as a pawn to elicit the doubts and insecurities within her, as she questions the motives and morals behind her supposedly safe choices. The rest of the cast is - ok - including a pre-Designing Women Annie Potts - but its Turner and Perkins who steal this show. Quite simply, anyone who has ever struggled with relationships, struggled with life in general - should be able to relate to this movie. If you scrape off the outer layers, that wonderful, happy, perfect life of yours probably isn't quite so perfect. It might be easy for some to dismiss this as way too over the top - but that would be like saying Chris Rock is too funny. Bottom line - See This Movie.